OAN Staff Blake Wolf
9:55 AM – Thursday, October 2, 2025
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has warned that the recent U.S. government shutdown will likely lead to thousands of federal layoffs — pointing to Democrats’ refusal to work with the GOP — which the administration maintains prompted the shutdown.
Leavitt made the announcement on Thursday, telling reporters that the federal layoffs are “likely going to be in the thousands.”
“It’s a very good question, and that’s something that the Office of Management and Budget and the entire team at the White House here, again, is unfortunately having to work on today,” she continued. “These discussions and these conversations, these meetings would not be happening if the Democrats had voted to keep the government open.”
Leavitt’s comments follow a Wednesday Axios report, in which Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought reportedly stated that the federal firings will begin within a “day or two.”
It is currently unclear as to which federal agencies would be targeted, although Vought released an internal memo last week warning the administration “to be prepared for a shutdown if the Democrats choose to pursue one.”
Vought also instructed federal agencies to issue a “Reduction in Force (RIF) notices for all employees,” specifically in programs that are deemed “not consistent with the president’s priorities.”
Additionally, President Donald Trump issued a Truth Social post on Thursday, announcing that he is meeting with Vought to determine which “Democrat Agencies” should receive cuts — and whether the cuts should be temporary or indefinite.
“I have a meeting today with Russ Vought, he of PROJECT 2025 Fame, to determine which of the many Democrat Agencies, most of which are a political SCAM, he recommends to be cut, and whether or not those cuts will be temporary or permanent,” Trump wrote.
“I can’t believe the Radical Left Democrats gave me this unprecedented opportunity. They are not stupid people, so maybe this is their way of wanting to, quietly and quickly, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! President DJT,” he added.
The Senate has been unable to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government, prompting the temporary suspension of around 40% of the federal workforce, or roughly 750,000 employees.
The Republicans have majority control over the Senate. However, they are short of the 60 votes needed to pass the continuing resolution, as Senate Democrats hold out to negotiate the reversal of Trump’s previous spending cuts affecting illegal aliens.
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